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Norwegian Police Recover Missing Middle Eastern Artifacts
Police in Norway recently found a large number of ancient artifacts, including writing surfaces, originally made in the Middle East.
Iraqi officials reported the missing items. A law-enforcement organization in Norway that covers economic and environmental crime and the Norwegian Ministry of Culture worked together to find nearly 100 pieces.
The items are from Mesopotamia and go back to the time of the Sumerians, who lived about 5,000 years ago in what is now Iraq and the Middle East.
Seized artifacts found by Norway police are seen in this handout picture, in Viken region, Norway August 24, 2021. Picture taken August 24, 2021. Norwegian Police/Handout via REUTERS
A Norwegian law enforcement spokesperson said the items were in a private collection. The Reuters news agency reports several people were questioned, but no arrests were made.
The Norwegian organization that worked to find the items said they are important to worldwide “cultural heritage.”
Experts are now examining the items so they can find out if they are real, and where they came from.
Police did not say why or how the items came to be in Norway.
I’m Dan Friedell.
Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Reuters. Susan Shand was the editor.
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Words in This Story
artifact –n. a simple object (such as a tool or weapon) that was made by people in the past
heritage – n. the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation — usually singular